Problematic internet-related behaviors mediate the associations between levels of internet engagement and distress among schoolchildren during COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal structural equation modeling study

Feb 11, 2021Journal of behavioral addictions

Problematic internet use links time spent online to distress in schoolchildren during COVID-19 lockdown

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Abstract

Schoolchildren spent 1.02 hours more daily on smartphones during the COVID-19 school suspension.

Time spent on social media increased by 0.73 hours daily during the same period.
No significant increase in gaming time was observed, with only a 0.14-hour daily increase.
An increase of 15 to 30 minutes daily on internet-related activities was linked to higher .
The link between problematic social media use and psychological distress was stronger during school suspension compared to before.
Monitoring internet-related activities may be important for supporting children's mental health.

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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), policies based on the nature of "spatial distancing" have been implemented and have resulted in school suspensions and online learning among schoolchildren. In order to examine the impact of such policies on schoolchildren, the aims of the present study were to (i) assess changes in the level of engagement in three internet-related activities (smartphone use, social media use, and gaming) before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, including prolonged and problematic engagement in these activities; (ii) investigate the differences of before and after COVID-19 outbreak; and (iii) to use structural equation modeling to investigate the mediating roles of problematic internet-related behaviors in the causal relationships of psychological distress and time spent on internet-related activities.

METHODS: Self-report measures were used to assess internet-related activities and psychological distress. Time spent on internet-related activities, problematic use of internet-related activities, and psychological distress were collected from primary school students (N = 535; 265 boys; M age = 10.32 years [SD = 0.84]). The data were first collected before the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., early November 2019) and then collected again during the school suspension due to COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., end of March 2020) for comparisons of changes.

RESULTS: Schoolchildren spent significantly more time on the smartphone (increased 1.02 h daily; P < 0.001) and social media (increased 0.73 h daily; P < 0.001) but not gaming (increased 0.14 h daily; P = 0.07) during the school suspension compared to the baseline. Schoolchildren who increased by 15 or 30 min daily on internet-related activities showed an increased level of psychological distress. The association between problematic use of social media and psychological distress was stronger during the school suspension (β = 0.584) than at the baseline (β = 0.451; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Increased problematic use of internet-related activities among schoolchildren was associated with greater psychological distress. Parents should therefore monitor internet-related activities and psychological distress of their children to support their mental health.

Key numbers

1.02 h

Increase in Smartphone Use

Time spent on smartphones increased from baseline to lockdown.

0.73 h

Increase in Social Media Use

Time spent on social media increased from baseline to lockdown.

0.584

Path Coefficient for Social Media Use

Path coefficient comparing problematic social media use and during lockdown.

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Problematic internet-related behaviors mediate the associations between levels of internet engagement and distress among schoolchildren during COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal structural equation modeling study

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